Patent GB-190723459-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Flying Machines.
Inventor: RAGGETT JOHN JAMES
Filed: 1907-10-24
Granted: 1908-10-22
Abstract: 23,459. Raggett, J. J. Oct. 24. Aerial machines without aerostats; aeroplanes; propelling; steering.-The aerial machine is supported by one or more flat aeroplanes each comprising a fabric strained to an inner and outer ring, which may be combined with blades or propellers for raising and propelling the machine. The plane A, Fig. 1, is secured to an outer ring B stayed by cords D to the hubs C, and is connected to the inner ring E through springs or elastic material. The hubs C are fixed to a shaft CS by which the plane is rotated. The .inner ring E can be raised or lowered, to cause the plane to be inclined as at A', by rods G connected to a sleeve H loose on the shaft CS and adjustable by a fork 1 on a sleeve J. A bolt K engages with notches L on the sleeve J to lock the sleeve in any position. The plane A can be combined with propeller blades P arranged as shown at W, X, Y, Fig. 4, or with circular blades P, Fig. 6, consisting of canvas strained to a ring and having extending feathers W ; or blades S, Fig. 10, may be attached to the outer ring of the plane, and blades P to the inner ring. These blades are mounted on rods having cranked ends by which the inclination of the blades is adjusted. The cranked ends are connected to rods secured to a sleeve on the central spindle, which is adjusted and fixed as described above. In another form the plane is provided with spiral or other shaped propellers, arranged exteriorly to the plane and rotated on their own axes from the central spindle. The plane may be provided with blades P, Fig. 15, and forward propellers FP, and part of the propeller may be screened by an adjustable casing S. The forward propellers FP may be arranged to be inoperative in the forward part of their rotation, and are secured to a cranked rod LA, Fig. 18, which is adjusted by a cam C through a connecting-rod R. When the blades P, Fig. 6, are used for forward propulsion, they are caused to assume an horizontal position as they move forward by means of a fixed inclined, circular plate D, Fig. 19, which acts on a rod connected to a crank on the rod R supporting the blades. The machine may be raised by a single rotating plane, in which case the car is arranged so that it hangs inclined to the shaft of the plane to prevent the car from turning as the plane rotates. When two planes are used, they are arranged on concentric shafts and placed one within the other, as shown in Fig. 23 ; or the planes may be placed one above the other. The small plane SA may be driven faster than the large one by gearing G, Fig. 23, or a screw propeller, arranged below the car, may be fixed to the shaft of the small propeller to balance the turning-forces. Fig. 26 shows a machine lifted by two rotary planes H and provided with two pairs of propellers FP arranged so that either pair may be operated, depending on the direction the machine is to travel. Macbines having a larger number of aeroplanes arranged in a circle or along the sides of a rectangular frame are also described. The aeroplane may also be in the form of a helix connected to inner and outer vertical rods VR, Fig. 13, and stayed by cords D. In another form the aeroplane is fixed and supports the car from either the inner or outer ring. and adjustable planes F, Fig. 37, may be fixed to the outer edge of the aeroplane A.